Greg Seitz Named Athletic Director at JSU

02/26/2016

Greg Seitz, JSU's new athletic director.

JACKSONVILLE – Greg Seitz has been named as the Director of Athletics at Jacksonville State University, President Dr. John M. Beehler announced on Friday.Seitz, who is in his 23rd year in the athletic department at JSU, has served as interim Athletic Director for the last 14 months. This marks his third term as serving as the interim Athletic Director for the Gamecock athletic department."We are very excited to have Greg Seitz lead our athletic department," Dr. Beehler said. "Greg is very well respected in the OVC, the NCAA and nationally, and has proven himself while serving in the interim role. We work very well together. With his excellent contacts, he will do an outstanding job leading our athletic department into its bright future. I'm pleased to remove the interim title and introduce him as our Athletic Director."Seitz has been with JSU since 1993, when he began working as assistant sports information director. In 1999, he became Sports Information Director and was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 2002, before being promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2011."I am extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Athletic Director at Jacksonville State," Seitz said. "I would like to thank President Beehler, the Board of Trustees and the entire Jax State family for their trust and faith in me as we continue to move the athletics department forward. It is an opportunity that I do not take for granted, and I will work hard every day to ensure that we continue to be successful, both in the classroom and on the fields and courts of competition."During his term as interim Athletic Director over the last year, the JSU football team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in school history after earning a trip to the FCS National Championship game and setting numerous attendance records. Both the Jacksonville State men's and women's athletics teams were recognized in the final Capital One Cup standings, which honor the nation's best Division I athletic programs last summer. The Gamecock men's team finished 61st, while the women finished 71st out of 347 NCAA Division I athletic programs. In the classroom, the Gamecock student-athletes posted a 3.16 cumulative grade-point average during the fall of 2015, representing the highest mark in school history. Additionally, 15 of the 17 sports at Jax State posted a team grade point average higher than a 3.0, which is also the most in school history."Greg Seitz has been a loyal employee who has stepped in to head the Athletic Department in critical times and he is deserving of this opportunity," said Mr. Jim Bennett, chairman of the JSU Board of Trustees. "His proven ability to network with other universities and the NCAA is a valuable asset to JSU."Seitz has been instrumental in many of the facility upgrades at Jacksonville State, including renovations at Pete Mathews Coliseum and the lobby of the football field house. Seitz was also involved in the design and addition of the football stadium, and the recent softball stadium and dressing room expansion."Greg has worked tirelessly for a number of years in the athletic department at JSU, and also worked with the NCAA and AHSAA on several projects," said Mr. Thomas Dedrick, chairman of the Athletic Committee of the JSU Board of Trustees. "In each capacity, Greg has earned the respect of both coaches and administrators. We feel that the work that he has done speaks volumes, and the knowledge of the University and its culture made Greg the best person for the job."Seitz, who has served on the NCAA Men's Final Four Media Coordinator team for the last six years, also has worked numerous NCAA Championships and Alabama High School Athletic Association events over the last 23 years. In 2002, he became the first SID elected as President of the Alabama Sports Writers Association and currently serves as the organization's secretary and treasurer.